November 16, 1921 – August 10, 2015
C. Bruce Lee served with the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, after which he earned an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and later held a high-level position with the federal government. He appeared in the documentary film Coming Out Under Fire.
May 6, 1941 – August 6, 2015
Born in Detroit of Mohawk heritage, Beth Brant was a poet, essayist, and author whose writings bridged multiple identities. Her publications include Mohawk Trail and Testimony from the Faithful.
What Remains: Remembering Michelle Cliff, Beth Brant, and Stephania Byrd
June 8, 1967 – March 28, 1996
Jackson resident Gregg Carr worked as a home health care aide and enjoyed home decorating. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 28.
February 8, 1944 – May 14, 2013
Jo Ellen Ploeger worked as a physical therapy technician and served as a longtime member and deacon with the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit.
April 1, 1967 – March 18, 2016
Mary Beth Dietz earned a B.A. in English from Michigan State University and taught English in Wisconsin before returning to school to become a chiropractor. She and LeAnne Ray became the first same-sex couple married in Michigan City, Indiana.
Grosse Pointe News, March 24, 2016
January 12, 1951 – August 10, 1995
A descendant of the Kellogg cereal family, John Kellogg in the 1970s migrated from west Michigan to San Francisco where he worked in gay businesses, including the adult film industry. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 44.
April 9, 1991 – June 12, 2016
Tevin Eugene Crosby owned and operated the Saginaw marketing firm Total Entrepreneurs Concepts. He was killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016 at age 25.
June 1, 1984 – June 12, 2016
Detroit native Christopher Andrew “Drew” Leinonen moved to Florida just before high school and made a career as a psychologist. He was killed in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016 at age 32.
August 15, 1945 – September 24, 1996
At the time of her death at age 51, Linda Petersen served as director of client services for AIDS Partnership Michigan.
August 12, 1930 – May 17, 1995
Bramwell Franklin, better known to audiences as “Chi-Chi,” performed comedic routines at the Ten Eleven and other bars throughout Detroit from the late 1940s to the late 1970s.
Michigan LGBTQ Remember 